Lubrication device



Nov. 19, 1935. c, COOPER 2,021,715

LUBRICATI'ON DEVICE Filed March 3, 1954 11mg (2 Cooper;

Patented Nov, 19, 1935.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved lubrication device and more particularly to a lubrication device adapted to be used in journal boxes of railway cars or for like lubrication purposes.

In journal boxes of this character it is customary to provide a packing of waste which is saturated with oil. The upper portion of the journal carries the load by supporting the bearing while the lower portion of the journal receives lubrication from the packing in the journal box.

The usual packing of waste has a number of undesirable features. It tends to pack down and jar away from the journal to be lubricated. It requires constant inspection and renewal which entails considerable expense. It does not positively and certainly contact and lubricate the journal surface over the desired extent of the journal as it is only held against the journal by its own mass.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved lubrication device for journals or the like.

It is a further object to provide a device of this character adapted for insertion and use in railway journal boxes to carry lubricant from the bottom of the journal box to the journal.

It is. an additional object to provide a device which is positive in its action and which contacts with the journal throughout a predetermined extent.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device which may be readily inserted and removed from the journal box.

It is a further object to provide a device which I utilizes a removable and reversible lubricant pad.

It is also an object to provide a device which is simple in design and construction and adapted for commercial production.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawing, in

which 7 Figure 1 is a vertical section through the journal box taken parallel to the axis of the journal on line [-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section of one end of a lubricating pad member;

Fi u 4 is a p an v w of he base member; and

Figure 5 is an end view; of the construction shown in Figure 4.

In the drawing, the journal box ll encloses the wedge I 2 and the journal bearing l3 which fits over the upper portion of the journal l4, 5 which is formed on the end of the axle I5. The dust guard l6 engages the axle adjacent the journal to keep dust out of the journal box.

The lubricating assembly comprises the base plate [1, shown in Figures 4 and 5. This base 10 plate is made wider at each side to insure uniform pressure and alignment of the lubricating pad against the axle and is made narrow in the center to permit insertion and removal from the journal box. It has the spaced upstanding ears I8 which carry the pivot pins 1 9 to pivotally support the arms 20. The pad bending and securing clip 2| is secured to the middle portion of the member IT by means of the rivet 22 or by other suitable securing means. The lateral edges of the base plate I! are notched at 23 to provide a clearance for the springs 24 which serve to resiliently support the arms 20. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, these springs 24 have coiled end portions which are coiled around the pivots i9 25 and have intermediate portions which engage the under side of the arms 20.

The arms 20, as shown in Figure 1, are provided with extensions 25 having inturned ends 26 which extend beyond the end 21 of the journal. These 30 arms serve as handles for inserting or removing the lubricating assembly into or from the journal box. The bearing plates 28 are secured. to the upper edges of the arms 20 by means of the hinges 29. The upper edges of the plates 28 are rolled over as shown at 30, to receive a retaining pin 3|. These rolled edges are notched as shown at 32 to permit alignment with the pin receiving passage of the tubular ends 33 of the securing members 34 which are inserted into the middle of the edges of the pads 35 and retained in place by rivets 36. The notches in the edges of the plates 28 are sufiiciently longer than the tubular ends 33 of-the securing members 34 to permit a lateral play of the pad which insures automatic adjustment and proper lubrication during endwise movements of the axle in the journal box. The upper edges of the plates 28 are also notched at 31 to receive the end of the revrersely bent portion 38 of the retaining pin 3|. The inner ends of the plates 28 are rounded as shown at 39 so as to facilitate insertion of the assembly into the journal box under the journal.

When the lubricant pads are to be inserted into the supporting frame and secured thereto, the

arms 26 are swung down so that the assembly is flattened out. In order to retain it in this position to facilitate handling in changing or applying the pads to the supporting frame, the arms 26 are provided with the clips 40 which are adapted to engage under the swinging catch members 4! which are pivoted on pins 42 to the under side of the base plate I! or recessed in that plate. After the pads have been secured in place the members 4! may be swung to the dotted line position to release the arms which will be forced upwardly to cause the pads to engage the journal as clearly shown in Figure 2. The arms 20 have a limited lateral movement on the pins l9, this being permitted by the clearance shown in Figure 1. This play permits the arms to adjust themselves to movement of the axle into and out of the journal box.

The particular formation of the arms 2|! having the curved lower portion and straight upper portion 43 is important in bringing the construction to a substantially fiat form for insertion into a journal box. The angle between the lower portion and portion 43 of the arms 20 allows the bearing plate 28 to have its inner edge swing down so that the entire device is not too wide to enter the journal box. This angle also causes the arms to more positively thrust the plates 28 and pads toward the journal.

The pivoting of the plates 28 at approximately their centers on the ends of arms 20 is important in that it permits the plates and pads to pivot as may be necessary and to automatically take their positions with proper bearing against the journal. The springs 24 may be made of any strength desired, dependent upon the pressure with which it is desired to have the pads engage the journal. The lower edges of the pads 35 are provided with securing members 34 identical in position and location with the members 34 on the upper edge of the pads. The tubular portions 33 of these members extend beyond the lower edge of the pad and two of them adjacent the center of the pad edge pass through the securing clip 2| and are held in place by the removable rods or wires 43.-

Since the pads 35 have identical edges and faces it will be apparent that they may be secured to the supporting frame in any one of four positions so that four different portions of the pad will engage the journal. The changing of the pads from one position to another may be accomplished easily and rapidly by locking the arms 20 to the base member I! by means of the members 40 and 4! and removing the pins or rods 31 and 43. The life of asingle set of pads is thus four times that of a set of pads which could not be changed in this manner.

While I have shown one preferred embodiment of my invention, this is to be understood to be illustrative only, as I contemplate such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lubricating device for use in journal boxes, comprising a base member adapted to fit in the bottom of the journal box, a pair of spaced arms pivoted to the base, spring means for urging the arms upwardly and toward the journal in the journal box, bearing plates conforming approximately to' the contour of the journal and pivoted at intermediate points of the plates to the upper ends of the arms whereby the plates are free to move to positions parallel to the journal surfaces, and lubricant pads detachably secured to the upper edge of the bearing plates and extending downwardly adjacent the base, and means for detachably securing the lower edges of the pads to the base plate with said edges extending outwardly and parallel to the base plate. 5

2. A lubricating device for use in journal boxes, comp-rising a lubricant pad, means for supporting said pad, aligned openings formed in the support, members carried by the pad having openings therein, said members fitting loosely between the aligned openings formed in the support, and removable securing means extending through the pad and support openings.

3. A lubricating device for use in journal boxes, comprising a lubricant pad, means for supporting said pad and urging it against a journal, aligned openings formed in the support, securing members of less thickness than the pad extending from the edge of the pad having openings formed therein, and removable securing means extending through the pad and support openings to loosely secure the pad to the support.

4. A lubricating device for use in journal boxes, comprising a lubricant pad, means for supporting said pad and urging it against a journal, aligned openings formed in the support, securing members of less thickness than the pad inserted into the body of the pad and extending from the .edge of the pad having openings formed therein, rivets countersunk into the pad for holding the securing members in place, and removable securing means extending through the pad and support openings to loosely secure the pad to the support.

5. A lubricating device for use in journal boxes, comprising a lubricant pad, means for supporting said pad, aligned openings formed in the support, members carried by opposite ends of the pad having openings therein, the opposite ends and faces of the pad being identical whereby the pad is reversible, and removable securing means extending through the pad and support openings at each end of the pad.

6. A lubricating device for use in journal boxes, comprising a lubricant pad, a base member, an arm secured to the base member and urged upwardly, a bearing plate pivotally supported on the arm, means for securing the lubricant pad to the bearing plate, and means for selectively retaining the arm swung downwardly adjacent the base plate.

'7. A lubricating device for use in journal boxes, comprising a lubricant pad, a base member, an arm secured to the base member and urged upwardly, a bearing plate pivotally supported on the arm, means for securing the lubricant pad to the bearing plate, and an offset formed in the arm whereby when the arm is swung adjacent the base plate, the bearing plate may extend at an angle to the base plate.

8. A lubricating device for use in journal boxes, comprising a lubricant pad, a base member, an arm secured to the base member and urged upwardly, a bearing plate pivotally supported on the arm, means for securing the lubricant pad to the bearing plate, an offset formed in the arm whereby when the arm is swung adjacent the base plate the bearing plate may extend at an angle to the base plate, and means for selectively retaining the arm swung downwardly adjacent the base plate.

9. A lubricating device for use in journal boxes, comprising a lubricant pad, a base member, an arm secured to the base member and urged upwardly, a bearing plate pivotally supported on the arm, loosely interlocking means for securing the lubricant pad to the bearing plate, loosely interlocking means for securin the pad to the base plate, both said means permitting ready removal of the pad or attachment of the pad to the arm and base plate, and further permitting longitudinal play between the pad and the arm and base plate.

10. As an article of commerce, a removable lubricating pad comprising a substantially rectangular felt body, securing means extending from opposite sides of the body, said means being of less thickness than the body and identically placed on opposite sides of the body'and relative to the center line of the body.

11. As an article of commerce, a removable lubricating pad comprising a substantially rectangular felt body, and securing clips having tubular portions extending from opposite sides of the body, the tubular portions being of less thickness than the felt, the clips having portions extending into the edge of the felt body and held in place by countersunk rivets.

12. A lubricating device for journal boxes, comprising a frame, said frame comprising a base plate and pressure plates urged upwardly and laterally toward the journal; and lubricant pads carried by said frame, aligned tubular openings carried by the pressure plates and base plate, aligned tubular members carried by opposite ends of the pads and aligned with the tubular members of the pressure plates and base portions and fitting loosely between said members, and removable pins extending through the interfitting tubular portions.

13. A lubricating device for journal boxes, comprising a frame, said frame comprising a base plate, swinging arms, and pressure plates urged 5 upwardly and laterally toward the journal; lubricant pads carried by said frame, aligned tubular openings carried by the pressure plates and base plate, aligned tubular members carried by opposite ends of the pads and aligned with the tubular members of the pressure plates and base portions and fitting loosely between said members, removable pins extending through the interfitting tubular portions, and extensions on the swinging arms to swing the arms downwardly while introducing the device into and removing it fro-m a journal box.

14., A lubricating device for journal boxes, comprising a frame, said frame comprising a base plate, swinging arms, and pressure plates urged upwardly and laterally toward the journal; lubricant pads carried by said frame, aligned tubular openings carried by the pressure plates and base plate, aligned tubular members carried by opposite ends of the pads and aligned with the tubular members of the pressure plates and base portions and fitting loosely between said members, removable pins extending through the interfitting tubular portions, and means for selectively retaining the swinging arms swung down adjacent the base plate.

HARRY C. COOPER. 

